[logfromblammo]

If you don't understand the problem, I have to assume you have never lived in a multistory walk-up apartment building with breezeway stairwells.

When I did, my wish-list was as follows.

  I wish I had...
  - a window that faced a different direction.
  - more storage space.
  - a parking space closer to my pantry, and at the same level.
  - better sound insulation between neighbors.
  - an unobstructed view of the southern sky.
  - more than one possible cable provider.
  - the option for DSL.
  - a uniquely numbered address.
  - a private outdoor space, suitable for gardening.
  - another way to get in and out of the complex.

When I moved to a freestanding house in a cookie-cutter suburban subdivision, all of those wishes were fulfilled, but I had new problems.

  I wish I had...
  - no accessible/visible lawn for the homeowners association to hassle me about.
  - a shorter/easier commute.
  - locks on my outdoor faucets, because of *that neighbor*.
  - any business at all within walking distance.
  - some sort of park within walking distance.
  - no visible ugly utility boxes.
  - lower total housing and utility costs.
  - a room that I could use as a home office.

Those are all the problems I think will be solved or reduced by my simplistic solution. Plus, there's the overall problem of cheap, dense housing that might still be accepted by Americans accustomed to typical suburban/periurban freestanding houses.